1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer? Dang—is that sentence even grammatically correct? Shouldn’t it be “What ARE the total number (or amount) of files...?” Well, anyway. Doesn’t matter. The answer remains the same: None.

2. The last CD you bought. Again I ask you, is this correct usage of the English language? Seriously—isn’t there something missing? Shouldn’t it be “What was the last CD you bought?”, and shouldn’t it end with a question mark? Ok, ok. Sorry. Frank Sinatra, for my roommate for Christmas.

3. What is the song you last listened to before this message? Airplanes and Satellites by Sonia Dada (if you’ve never heard that song or heard of the band, do yourself a favor and go check them out. This is the second link to them, fer cryin' out loud, do you think I'm kidding? You will NOT be sorry!).

4. Write down 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you. I think all the other mothers with young kids can appreciate it when I say I don’t listen to much of my own music anymore. HOWEVER, there are some songs that mean a lot to me even if I don’t get to hear them often.

One of them is “Fire and Rain” by James Taylor—when I was a little girl, my dad told me that song always made him think of me. When I grew up and really listened to the lyrics, that made me intensely sad. I still have a hard time listening to that song sometimes.

Another is “You are my Sunshine”. Listen to the version on the O Brother Soundtrack. Eric used to sing the children’s version to me. After Em was born, every time I heard that song, any version of it, I would cry until my eyes were raw. I’m only just starting to be able to listen to it without bursting into tears.

“Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison always, always, always reminds me of my sisters, Kate & Teri. None of us have brown eyes, but I have a particular sweet memory associated with that song. I’m smiling inside just thinking of it.

“Shalimar” by Van Morrison makes me think of my mom. Not that it’s her particular favorite Van Morrison song (she actually likes the Water song better), but she used to wear Shalimar perfume when I was little. I associate the smell of Shalimar perfume with the lipstick and dress-up clothes and pearls; the smell of a grown-up night.

Those 4 songs cover all my immediate family members. I’m sure there are other songs that are important in my life, but these are the only ones that come to mind immediately. Remind me sometime and I might tell you the story of Brown Eyed Girl. Or I might not.

5. Who are you gonna pass this (stick this!) to. Three people and why?
I hate to disappoint the masses (Hahaha), but I’m not going to stick this to anyone. It’s a whole lot more work than it looks like. If you’re interested in copying it, feel free.

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My sister’s son has for years been telling us he is not really human, rather he is a white wolf. Years, I tell you. And he doesn’t just tell his family, he tells anyone who will listen. If you piss him off, he’ll growl at you. You get the picture.

Yesterday, Emily stayed at home with my mom. I got a voicemail around 10:30 with my mom sheepishly admitting that Em was watching TV while she played on the computer—at least she thought Em was watching TV—but it was suspiciously quiet, so she went to find her. My pretty little bird was perched atop her bunk bed, black sharpie marker in hand. When my mom walked in the room, Em announced “I know my name is Little Bird, but I’m really a White Wolf!”—she had colored her legs, feet, hands, arms and FACE in BLACK PERMANENT MARKER!

My mom did what any good grandmother would do (or any good mom, for that matter): She took pictures. (Thanks, Mom!)

She didn’t take them with the digital camera though, so I can’t post them for you now.

I can, however post a similar picture. Have I mentioned that my daughter likes to draw? Well, it’s not that she likes to draw so much as she likes to have markers. The last time we were at my sister’s house, she and her cousin (my sister’s daughter, not her son) decided it would be fun to color on each other. Girl cousin got Em all nicely painted before they were busted, so Em was the only one who got colored that day. It looked horrific when it happened, but looked about 50 times worse after we tried to wash it off, because it left this terrible, spotted, shadow effect. Ick!

My mom wants to go see a movie this afternoon. I think I’ll leave the office around noon for lunch, go to the movie with her, then come back around 3:30 or 4:00 for a final email check before I leave for the day. Whaddaya say? Think anyone will notice? Nah, me neither.

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Two more things: Bunsen is helping me re-design my new template (isn't that nice? She's not really helping so much as doing it for me, but she's letting me say I helped 'cause she's just nice that way. hahaha!), so keep your eyes open for cool new changes! (Oh, but guys, you may not want to click on her link just now--trust me on that one.)

Also, I recently put up a link called "Support Breast Cancer Research". Click there to support me on my Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. No, really. Go now. Then go again in a couple months. Go as often as you can. I desperately need the help!